Investigational Drug Blocks Inflammation-Induced Decrease in Blood Iron Levels

An experimental drug that regulates the blood’s iron supply shows promise as a viable first treatment for anemia of inflammation. Investigators induced a safe and temporary model of anemia of inflammation (through a low dose of E. coli endotoxin) in 24 healthy male adults who were randomized to receive lexaptepid (an anti-hepcidin L-oligoribonucleotide) or placebo 30 minutes later. After 9 hours, iron in the blood increased by 15.9 µmol/L from baseline in lexaptepid-treated participants compared to a decrease of 8.3 µmol/L in placebo-treated individuals. Theresults are published in Blood.